3D printing for electroanalysis: From multiuse electrochemical cells to sensors

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 1033; pp. 49 - 57
• Main Authors: Cardoso, Rafael M., Mendonça, Dianderson M.H., Silva, Weberson P., Silva, Murilo N.T., Nossol, Edson, da Silva, Rodrigo A.B., Richter, Eduardo M., Muñoz, Rodrigo A.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 29-11-2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D-printer; ABS resins; Acrylonitrile; Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; Ammonia; Carbon; Catechol; Chemical sensors; Diclofenac; Diclofenac - analysis; Dipyrone; Dipyrone - analysis; Dopamine; Dopamine - analysis; Electrical measurement; Electroanalysis; Electrochemical cells; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemical Techniques; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Electrolytic analysis; Electron transfer; Electron Transport; Filaments; Flow analysis; Flow Injection Analysis; Functional groups; Fused deposition modeling; Gold CDtrode; Graphene; Hydroquinones - analysis; Injection; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Polylactic acid; Printers; Printing; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Raman spectroscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Screen-printed electrode; Sensors; Spectroscopy; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Styrene; Surface Properties; Three dimensional models; Three dimensional printing; Wall-jet cell; Screen-printed electrode; Graphene; Flow analysis; Wall-jet cell; 3D-printer; Gold CDtrode
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.06.021

This work presents potential applications of low-cost fused deposition modeling 3D-printers to fabricate multiuse 3D-printed electrochemical cells for flow or batch measurements as well as the 3D-printing of electrochemical sensing platforms. Electrochemical cells and sensors were printed with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and conductive graphene-doped polylactic acid (G-PLA) filaments, respectively. The overall printing operation time and estimated cost per cell were 6 h and $ 6.00, respectively, while the sensors were printed within minutes (16 sensor strips of 1 × 2 cm in 10 min at a cost of $ 1.00 each sensor). The cell performance is demonstrated for the amperometric detection of tert-butylhydroquinone, dipyrone, dopamine and diclofenac by flow-injection analysis (FIA) and batch-injection analysis (BIA) using different working electrodes, including the proposed 3D-printed sensor, which presented comparable electroanalytical performance with other carbon-based electrodes (LOD of 0.1 μmol L−1 for dopamine). Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the 3D-printed sensor indicated the presence of graphene nanoribbons within the polymeric matrix. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and heterogeneous electron transfer constants (k0) for the redox probe Ru(NH3)6+3 revealed that a glassy-carbon electrode presented faster electron transfer rates than the 3D-printed sensor; however, the latter presented lower LOD values for dopamine and catechol probably due to oxygenated functional groups at the G-PLA surface.
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•Low-cost fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D-printers to produce cells and electrodes.•Multiuse cells for flow- (FIA) and batch-injection analysis (BIA) as well for batch condition.•Designs and printing conditions accessible for any FDM 3D-printers.•Graphene-doped PLA printed sensors for voltammetric and amperometric detection.•Electroanalytical performance similar to GCE modified with carbon nanomaterials.